Our expert Gastroenterologists make getting care easy

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Conditions we treat

We want our patients to know these conditions are highly treatable, but can have long-term consequences if left untreated.

GERD

GERD is a severe, chronic acid reflux condition in which the muscle connecting your stomach to your esophagus (tube connecting your throat to your stomach) is weak or relaxes abnormally, allowing acidic stomach contents to back up into your esophagus. While rarely life threatening, GERD can lead to internal bleeding, ulcers, strictures, or esophageal cancer, if not detected early.

A likely cause of GERD is hiatal hernia (your stomach pushing up through your diaphragm muscle). Other risk factors for GERD include obesity, pregnancy, smoking, asthma, dry mouth, diabetes, and connective tissue disorder
Barrett's Esophagus

Barrett’s esophagus is a disorder in which the lining of your esophagus is damaged by stomach acid. The acid leaks from your stomach upward and back into your esophagus, causing a sensation like heartburn that never goes away.
Esophageal Motility Disorders

Esophageal Motility Disorders is the process of moving food through the esophagus and esophageal motility disorders occur when your esophagus doesn’t move together properly. One of the most common and treatable types of esophageal motility disorder is achalasia.
Inflammatory Bowel Disease
We understand that IBD can affect people at any stage of life, disrupting their personal, professional, and social experiences. At the MedStar Georgetown Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) Center, we work together with our IBD patients to provide them with the best medical and surgical care. IBD Center treats all types of IBD conditions, including:

Crohn’s Disease

Ulcerative Colitis

Indeterminate Colitis

Pouchitis Microscopic

Enterocolitis; Lymphocytic and Collagenous Enterocolitis

Celiac Disease

Eosinophilic Gastroenteritis

Diarrhea
Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), also known as spastic colon, intestinal neurosis, and nervous indigestion, refers to a disorder of the lower intestinal tract that leads to abdominal pain and abnormal bowel movements.

The cause of IBS is not known, but it can occur after an intestinal infection (post-infectious IBS). IBS symptoms may be worse in patients who also have stress or mood disorders, such as anxiety, and depression; however, these conditions do not cause IBS.

What are the signs of these gastrointestinal conditions?

GERD
The most common symptoms of GERD are as follows:

Heartburn, sometimes spreading to your throat and causing a sore throat, hoarseness, chronic cough, asthma, or the feeling of a lump in your throat

Regurgitation, a feeling of acid backed up in your esophagus

A feeling that food may be trapped behind your breastbone

Nausea after eating

Difficulty swallowing

Chest pain

If you experience severe or frequent GERD symptoms, schedule an appointment with your doctor, as you may need diagnostic testing.
Barrett's Esophagus
The tissue changes that cause Barrett’s esophagus do not produce symptoms, and many patients with Barrett’s esophagus have no symptoms. If you do experience symptoms, they will likely be due to GERD, and they most commonly include the following:

Frequent heartburn

Difficulty swallowing

Chest pain

If your heartburn and/or acid reflux has persisted for more than five years, ask your doctor if you are at risk for Barrett’s esophagus.
Esophageal Motility Disorders
The symptoms of esophageal motility disorders are caused by food moving too quickly or slowly, backwards or not moving through your digestive tract at all. Symptoms depend on your affected muscles and can include the following:

Acid reflux

Difficulty swallowing

Heartburn

Nausea

Swallowing Disorders

Vomiting / Regurgitation

If you have severe or frequent symptoms, schedule an appointment with your physician, as you may require diagnostic testing.
Inflammatory Bowel Disease
IBD Symptoms:
Symptoms range from mild to severe with most people experiencing the milder ones.

Abdominal distention

Abdominal fullness, gas, bloating

Abdominal pain that

comes and goes

is reduced or goes away after a bowel movement

occurs after meals

can wake you up

Chronic and frequent constipation, usually accompanied by pain

Family history of Crohn's and Colitis

Chronic and frequent diarrhea, usually accompanied by pain

Emotional distress

Depression

Loss of appetite
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) Symptoms:

Abdominal distention

Abdominal fullness, gas, bloating

Abdominal pain that

comes and goes

is reduced or goes away after a bowel movement

occurs after meals

Chronic and frequent constipation, usually accompanied by pain

Chronic and frequent diarrhea, usually accompanied by pain

Emotional distress

Depression

Loss of appetite

How are gastrointestinal conditions diagnosed?

Endoscopic ultrasound
An Endoscopic Ultrasound (EUS) allows your doctor to get high-quality ultrasound images of the inside of your body. An EUS can be used to:

Detect tumors in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract

Biopsy tumors in the GI tract. This is when the doctor removes a tissue sample from a suspicious mass and sends it to a pathology lab for analysis and diagnosis

Stage tumors in the GI tract, which is when the doctor determines the extent of the spread of the cancerous tumor (Stage I, II, III, or IV)

Assess esophageal, gastric, pancreatic, and rectal cancers

Detect common bile duct stones

Aspirate fluid cysts in the GI tract

Interventional endoscopic ultrasound for treatment of cysts and other GI pathologies

Marker placement for radiation therapy
Endoscopy

This is a way of looking inside the body using a flexible tube that has a small camera on the end of it. This instrument is called an endoscope. An endoscope is passed through a natural body opening or a small incision. For gastrointestinal diagnosis, an endoscope may be inserted through the mouth or anus, depending on the area of interest.
Esophageal manometry

A test used to identify issues with movement and pressure in your esophagus, manometry measures your esophagus’ strength and muscle coordination as you swallow. During the 20 to 30-minute test, your physician inserts a thin, pressure-sensitive tube through your nose and down into your stomach. Your physician then pulls the tube back into your esophagus and you are asked to swallow while the pressure of your muscles’ contractions is measured. All manometry studies are analyzed by our gastroenterologists.
pH and impedance testing

Used to determine if you have reflux disease or if your anti-reflux medication is working properly, this test measures the acid exposure in your esophagus, as well as liquid movement from your stomach to your esophagus. During the exam, your physician inserts a thin tube through your nose and down into your esophagus. The tube stays in place for 24 hours as you go about your normal daily activities. You will have a monitor to record your symptoms, as well as a journal to record food consumption and times when you are lying horizontally. Following 24 hours, the tube is removed and our specialists analyze the results.
Wireless Bravo pH system

Used to measure the amount of acid in your esophagus, this study allows your physician to evaluate your heartburn and acid reflux symptoms. During the test, your physician temporarily attaches a small capsule (the size of a gel cap) to the wall of your esophagus. The capsule transmits a signal to a small computer that you wear. After about two days, the capsule falls off and passes in your stool, and you return the small computer to our center. Our gastroenterologists then analyze your results.

How are gastrointestinal conditions treated?

Our expert team is equipped to treat the full range of disorders with advanced technology and techniques.

Treatment options include medication, cryoablation, radiofrequency ablation, endoscopic ultrasound for staging of cancer, diverticulectomy/myotomy, Heller myotomy, endoscopic mucosal resection, endoscopic submucosal dissection, electrocautery, dilation (including pneumatic dilation and self-dilation), stenting, Fundoplication, and placement of a LINX® Reflux Management System for GERD.

Gastroenterology: Ask Dr. Nadim Haddad

Dr. Haddad serves as physician executive director and regional chief of the Department of Gastroenterology services at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital. Dr. Haddad sees adult patients for conditions affecting the gastrointestinal tract, such as pancreatic and bilary diseases, with a focus on cancer. In addition to adults, Dr. Haddad also attends to pediatric patients for upper gastrointestinal endoscopy.

For more information call

or submit a request online.

Read Svein's Full Story

Meet our patients

Photo of Svein Becker wearing a bike helmet and bicycling gear.

Financial powerhouse Svein Backer, 54, studies the nuances of the financial markets. As the senior member of the investment team at a large corporate pension plan, he makes educated choices to optimize the financial futures of 350,000 people.

John Freshmans, a gastroenterology patient, stands in a rural field and smiles for the camera.

After learning that John Freshman’s Barrett’s esophagus had turned threatening during his annual endoscopy, John’s physician recommended the specialists at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital to perform advanced treatment.

Read John's Full Story

Chris Vass of Edgewater, Maryland, suffered from moderate to severe ulcerative pancolitis, an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that causes ulcers in the colon. After all known treatments failed, Chris’ only option seemed to be a total colectomy—surgical removal of the colon. But even with this, Chris might still need a temporary colostomy bag and have frequent bowel movements. At the young age of 27, it was a devastating prospect.

Read Chris's Full Story

Why choose us?

The specialists in our Gastroenterology Department at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital are nationally and internationally recognized as top experts in the diagnosis and treatment of digestive system disorders. While patients with digestive tract conditions often suffer for years before their conditions are accurately diagnosed, our physicians perform nearly 16,000 endoscopic GI procedures a year, giving them the experience needed to accurately diagnose your condition, including complex conditions, and provide the most effective treatment option.

Our specialists have access to the most cutting-edge technology, helping to ensure that they provide an accurate diagnosis the first time.

We are proud of our commitment to advanced clinical research, providing you access to the latest treatment options for GI disorders. Our physicians are at the forefront of developing nationwide standards of care, and some of our studies offer you access to technologies and procedures that are available at only a handful of centers in the county.

At a glance

We annually perform

16,000

Physican performed endoscopic GI procedures

For more information call

or submit a request online.

For clinical questions, please call 202-444-8541.

Meet the Gastroenterology team

John E. Carroll, MD

Walid Chalhoub, MD

Nadim Haddad, MD

Joseph J. Jennings, MD

Priyanka Kanth, MD

James Lewis, MD

Thomas M. Loughney, MD

Mark Mattar, MD

Angelica Nocerino, MD

Caren Palese, MD

Stanley Pietrak III, MD

Shervin Shafa, MD

Gastroenterology

John E. Carroll, MD
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John E. Carroll, MD

John E. Carroll, MD, is a Gastroenterologist at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital. Board certified in Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology, Dr. Carroll has been at Georgetown for twenty seven years. After graduating from medical school in Wisconsin, Dr. Carroll came to Georgetown for his internship in 1993, where he stayed and completed all of his postgraduate and specialty training. Dr. Carroll grew up in Chicago, and earned his degree in biomedical engineering at Marquette University.

Dr. Carroll did advanced training in endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) at Georgetown, and has been specializing in performing EUS procedures of the GI tract for 20 years. In addition to his interest in EUS procedures of the pancreas, stomach and biliary systems, Dr. Carroll also has extensive interest and expertise in treating disorders of the esophagus, such as Barrett’s esophagus and early invasive esophageal cancers. With the increasing advances in endoscopic technology which have developed in recent years, Dr. Carroll and his colleagues are routinely successfully curing early esophageal cancers endoscopically, which up until recently had required large surgeries to cure.

During his spare time Dr. Carroll enjoys skiing, sailing, travel, and following D.C. sports, in particular the Washington Nationals.

Walid Chalhoub, MD
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Walid Chalhoub, MD

After completing fellowships in both gastroenterology and advanced gastroenterology (ERCP/EUS) at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, Walid M. Chalhoub, MD, joined the hospital's medical staff in 2016 as an assistant professor of Medicine in the Department of Gastroenterology affiliated with the Georgetown University School of Medicine. Previously, Dr. Chalhoub was an attending physician in general medicine at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and an instructor at Weill Medical College of Cornell University in New York City.

Upon graduating from medical school, Dr. Chalhoub first worked for several years as a clinical researcher and coordinator at the Mount Sinai Medical Center. He then completed his internship and residency at the medical center's Elmhurst Program, where he was appointed chief resident followed by an appointment to the medical staff as a general medicine attending physician.

Dr. Chalhoub has a special interest in diagnosing and treating pancreatic and biliary disease with advanced endoscopic techniques. An accomplished researcher, his work has been published in peer-reviewed journals and textbooks, and presented at national conferences including the American College of Gastroenterology Annual Meeting and Digestive Disease Week.

Philosophy of Care:
My emphasis first and foremost is the quality of care. I treat a patient as a whole. Patients in general are all going through stressful and hard times physically, mentally, and emotionally. We are here to make sure their medical journey feels understood, supported, and treated with the utmost expertise, clarity, dignity, and respect.

Nadim Haddad, MD
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Nadim Haddad, MD

Nadim Haddad, MD, is board certified in internal medicine and gastroenterology. Dr. Haddad serves as physician executive director and regional chief of the Department of Gastroenterology services at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital. He sees adult patients for conditions affecting the gastrointestinal tract, such as pancreatic and bilary diseases, with a focus on cancer. In addition to adults, Dr. Haddad also attends to pediatric patients for upper gastrointestinal endoscopy.

Dr. Haddad's approach to care focuses on getting to know his patients treating the person, not a disease. His emphasizes hope when patients are facing a serious condition, such a cancer.

Dr. Haddad is also involved in research, focusing in the areas of pancreatic cancer and pancreatic cysts. He was instrumental in developing a pancreatic cyst registry that allows multiple academic medical centers and universities to collaborate and look at the role of molecular profiling.

In addition, Dr. Haddad is active in training the next generation of physicians as an associate professor at Georgetown University. As director of the Gastroenterology Fellowship Program, he was instrumental in it gaining full accreditation.

In his free time, Dr. Haddad is active in the Washington community, involved in his children's schools and with his church.

Joseph J. Jennings, MD
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Joseph J. Jennings, MD

Joseph J. Jennings, MD is a board-certified gastroenterologist with a focus on bleeding within the GI tract. Dr. Jennings graduated from Georgetown University School of Medicine in 2012 and completed his Internal Medicine training at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital in 2015. He served as the Chief Medical Resident for MedStar Georgetown University Hospital and served as an attending physician in Internal Medicine at the Washington DC VA Medical Center and Virginia Hospital Center as well. He completed his three year fellowship in Gastroenterology at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital and served as Chief Fellow in 2018-2019.

Dr. Jennings strives to create a relationship with his patients that promotes joint decision making and patient empowerment. He also has a strong interest in medical education and training. He currently serves as the associate director for the MedStar Georgetown University Hospital's gastroenterology fellowship program.

Dr. Jennings is board certified in Internal Medicine since 2015 and Gastroenterology/Hepatology since 2019.

Priyanka Kanth, MD
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Priyanka Kanth, MD

Priyanka Kanth, MD, is a gastroenterologist at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital. Fellowship-trained and board-certified in gastroenterology, Dr. Kanth leads the Gastrointestinal Cancer Prevention Program for patients and families with high risk for gastrointestinal cancers. Her area of special interest and expertise is gastrointestinal cancer, especially hereditary colon cancer and colon cancer prevention.

She graduated from medical school and completed her internship at Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore, MAHE University, India. She completed a residency in internal medicine at University of Connecticut Health, Farmington, CT, where she was Chief Medical Resident, and a residency in colorectal and general surgery at Royal Albert Edward Infirmary in the United Kingdom, as well as a fellowship in gastroenterology at University of Utah Health in Salt Lake City.

Dr. Kanth’s areas of clinical expertise include colon polyps, serrated colon polyps, hereditary gastrointestinal cancer syndromes, including Lynch syndrome, familial adenomatous polyposis, juvenile polyposis syndrome, Peutz-Jeghers syndrome, serrated polyposis syndrome, hamartomatous polyposis syndromes, hereditary diffuse gastric cancer, gastrointestinal cancer genetics, and the prevention of colon cancer.

She has served as principal investigator and site principal investigator for several studies on issues related to gastrointestinal cancer. Her research has been published in several peer-reviewed journals, including NEJM, JAMA, Genetic Epidemiology, Gut, Gastroenterology, Clinical and Translational Gastroenterology, and Journal of National Comprehensive Cancer Network. She also has presented at numerous national and international conferences.

Dr. Kanth believes in educating her patients, so they are aware of their personal and family history of gastrointestinal and other cancers. This knowledge is important, because many of these cancers can be prevented and detected early, especially in the case of genetic conditions that increases cancer risk. She is a firm believer in listening to her patients, answering all their questions, and coming to a mutual decision about their care.

In her spare time, she enjoys movies, traveling, and spending time with family.

James Lewis, MD
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James Lewis, MD

Board-certified in gastroenterology and internal medicine, James H. Lewis, MD, has spent more than 30 years treating all forms of chronic and acute liver disease as a sub-specialty in the Washington, D.C., area. Dr. Lewis is Professor of Medicine at Georgetown University School of Medicine, and Director of Hepatology in the Division of Gastroenterology. He currently serves as Associate Director of the Gastroenterology Fellowship training program of the combined MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, MedStar Washington Hospital Center and the DC Veteran's Affairs Medical Center.

A recognized local and national expert on the management of hepatitis B, hepatitis C and drug induced liver disease, Dr. Lewis is widely published in the profession's most prestigious clinical journals. He also serves as a reviewer for multiple journals and on editorial boards. The author of several books and numerous book chapters, Dr. Lewis is a frequent lecturer at the regional and national level.

In addition to direct patient care, Dr. Lewis has extensive consulting experience with the FDA and pharmaceutical manufacturers on a variety of liver-related conditions. His special research interests include viral hepatitis and drug induced liver injury. Dr. Lewis is committed to his patients and often cares for those dealing with very complex liver conditions, including acute liver failure, cirrhosis, and people who have failed prior treatment for hepatitis B and C.

Thomas M. Loughney, MD
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Thomas M. Loughney, MD

Board-certified in Gastroenterology, Thomas Loughney, MD, currently serves as Director of Endoscopy at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital and is an Associate Professor, Georgetown Medical School. He is the Chairman of the Credentials Committee. He also serves on the MedStar Georgetown Patient Safety Committee.

Dr. Loughney has won multiple awards for his excellence in teaching and been recognized by Washington's Consumer Checkbook and Washingtonian Magazine as the top, recommended gastroenterologist in the Washington area. His clinical expertise includes interventional endoscopy, biliary and pancreatic disease, use of endoluminal stents and colon cancer screening.

Following a Gastroenterology Fellowship and Residency and Internship in Internal Medicine all at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center Dr. Loughney served as a Lt. Colonel in the Army Medical Corp. He graduated from Georgetown University School of Medicine in 1989.

Mark Mattar, MD
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Mark Mattar, MD

Dr. Mattar is the director of the IBD Center, with expertise in diagnosing and treating inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), Crohn's disease, colitis, and celiac disease. Dr. Mattar has a particular interest in IBD therapeutics and IBD and colorectal cancer prevention. He is active in clinical research and medical education for trainees, the community, and patients.

Dr. Mattar sees patients in his gastroenterology practice at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital. He embraces a team approach to patient care within the IBD Center at MedStar Georgetown as part of a multidisciplinary treatment team that includes dietitians and other key providers. He is also active in clinical trials for IBD and performs fecal microbiota transplantation for recurrent and refractory C. difficile infection.

Dr. Mattar teaches at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital as Associate Professor of Medicine, and is the director of the Fellowship Training Program in Gastroenterology. He is also an active member of the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation D.C. Metro chapter mission committee, the Professional Education National Scientific Advisory Committee and the Northeast Regional MyIBD Learning Planning Committee.

As the Quality Improvement Officer for the Division of Gastroenterology, Dr. Mattar has been recognized by the American Gastroenterological Association's Bridges to Excellence Program for his commitment to providing comprehensive quality care for patients with IBD.

Dr. Mattar enjoys family time with his wife and son, including fishing in local ponds and creeks. He especially enjoys exploring the Washington museums and playgrounds with his young son. He also enjoys checking out the local cafes and creating his own latte art.

Patients and practitioners can connect with Dr. Mattar on Twitter ( @gastrodocmattar) and follow his tweets on new developments in gastroenterology.

The mission of the training program he directs states, "To create an environment where compassionate medical trainees can learn to provide exceptional quality care to the patients we serve." He prides himself in treated his patients as he would his own family.

Angelica Nocerino, MD
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Angelica Nocerino, MD

Angelica Nocerino, MD, is a gastroenterologist at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital. Fellowship-trained in gastroenterology, Dr. Nocerino is committed to providing patients living with conditions that affect the digestive tract with excellent care and leading-edge treatments.

After graduating from medical school at Georgetown University School of Medicine, she completed her internship, residency, and fellowship in gastroenterology at Northwell Health-Lenox Hill Hospital, New York, NY, where she served as chief resident in internal medicine and chief fellow in gastroenterology.

Dr. Nocerino’s areas of clinical expertise include neurogastroenterology and motility. She treats patients with the full range of conditions that affect the esophagus, stomach, small bowel, and colon and anorectum, including irritable bowel syndrome, achalasia, esophagogastric junction outflow obstruction, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), gastroparesis, small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, intestinal dysmotility, chronic constipation, food hypersensitivity, and fecal incontinence.

Dr. Nocerino will be using Endoflip™ in her practice, a technology that measures esophageal motility, making MedStar Georgetown University Hospital one of the few centers in the area to offer this test. Dr. Nocerino will be offering esophageal high resolution manometry testing, wireless and catheter-based pH testing for acid reflux, anal rectal manometry for pelvic floor dysfunction, and SmartPill motility testing.

She has been published in several prestigious medical journals, including the American Journal of Gastroenterology, the Journal of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Digestive Diseases and Sciences, and Practical Gastroenterology, and has presented at conferences. She is an active researcher and her current work is focused on the Smart Pill motility testing system and gastroparesis.

Dr. Nocerino believes in taking care of the whole person, carefully listening to every patient and reviewing their lifestyle and diet to help get to the root cause of their disease. For each patient, she individualizes treatments to improve wellness and quality of life.

In her spare time, she enjoys traveling, spending time with family and friends, cooking, and cycling.

Caren Palese, MD
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Caren Palese, MD

Caren Palese, MD, is board certified in both Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology and is an Associate Professor of Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital. She is board certified in both Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology and is an Associate Professor of Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital. Dr. Palese completed her undergraduate studies at Princeton University and received her medical degree from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City. She completed her internship and residency in Internal Medicine, followed by a three-year Gastroenterology fellowship at Georgetown University Medical Center.

Since 2014, she has been consistently chosen by her peers to be a Washingtonian Magazine’s Top Doc. She has been awarded the annual distinction of Castle Connolly Top Doctor since 2016. In addition, she has received the Castle Connolly Exceptional Women in Medicine Award. She was selected by the Washington Post Magazine to be a Rising Star in 2013.

Dr. Palese uses progressive techniques to diagnose and treat many esophageal disorders, such as GERD, eosinophilic esophagitis and Barrett’s esophagus. She is an expert in diseases of swallowing.

For the most effective care and optimal outcomes for her patients, Dr. Palese takes a multidisciplinary approach and often works closely with a team of specialists. In addition to her expertise in swallowing disorders, Barrett’s esophagus and gastrointestinal motility disorders, Dr. Palese performs precise screening colonoscopies for detecting colon cancer and flat polyps.

Beyond her passion for her work, Dr. Palese enjoys speaking German, running and skiing.

Stanley Pietrak III, MD
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Stanley Pietrak III, MD

Stanley J. Pietrak, MD, is a board-certified gastroenterologist at MedStar Washington Hospital center. In addition to his dedication to general gastroenterology care, Dr. Pietrak diagnoses and treats both benign and malignant diseases of the bile ducts, pancreas, and the pancreatic ducts, with a focus on therapeutic endoscopy.

Dr. Pietrak utilizes endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) and endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) to provide minimally invasive treatment of the bile and pancreatic ducts. His clinical interests include malignant and benign disorders of the bile ducts, malignant and benign disorders of the pancreas, advanced polypectomy removal, staging of luminal gastrointestinal cancer, and endoscopic luminal stenting. His research interests include pancreatic cancer screening and endoscopy training proficiency for gastrointestinal fellows.

Dr. Pietrak received his medical degree from Albany Medical College, where he was elected to the Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society. He completed a three-year residency in internal medicine at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital. He then joined Drexel University College of Medicine for a three-year fellowship in gastroenterology, where he was Chief Fellow. Before joining MedStar Washington Hospital Center, Dr. Pietrak completed a specialty fellowship in advanced gastroenterology therapeutics with MedStar Georgetown University Hospital. He is a member of the American College of Gastroenterology (ACG), the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA), and the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE).

Dr. Pietrak is passionate about the early detection and management of patients with pancreatic cysts.

Philosophy of Care:
“In order to maximize the quality and effectiveness of the care I provide, I strive to practice evidence-based medicine with a patient-centered focus. While we must acknowledge the recommendations of national guidelines and landmark clinical research trials, each patient presents us with a unique situation or condition. As a result, we must not only focus on treating their medical issues, but also their individual concerns and needs.”

Shervin Shafa, MD
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Shervin Shafa, MD

Dr. Shafa completed a fellowships in Gastroenterology at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital followed and at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He is also trained in advanced therapeutics for malignant and benign lesions of the esophagus.

Dr. Shafa's research interests include endoscopic techniques and non-invasive methods for diagnosis and management of early esophageal cancer and Barrett's esophagus.

Dr. Shafa also performs cryoablative therapy for treatment of Barrett’s esophagus and esophageal cancers.

Located in Washington, D.C.

FAQs

What conditions do gastroenterologists treat?

Gastroenterologists treat a wide range of digestive system disorders, including acid reflux, GERD, IBS, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, esophageal/swallowing disorders, anemia, colon polyps, pancreas disorders, abdominal pain, bloating, constipation, diarrhea and more.
What symptoms should prompt a visit to a gastroenterologist?

Symptoms can differ based on condition and can range from mild to severe. You should also see a specialist if you are having persistent symptoms, have an uncertain diagnosis or your current treatment is not working.
What are the latest treatment options available?

We offer many advanced treatment options including endoscopic and minimally invasive procedures as well as medication management and dietary counseling tailored to your needs.
How do I schedule an appointment?

Call our scheduling line 202-295-0510, or fill out a request an appointment form
Do you accept my insurance?

We accept a wide range of insurance. Upon scheduling, the scheduler will work with you to ensure we accept your insurance.

For more information call

or submit a request online.